Hamlet Act 5 Questions

Hamlet Act 5 Questions

1)    What do you feel is the point of the gravedigger’s riddles and song?  How does it fit into the play?

The gravedigger's songs about death foreshadow the fact that Hamlet is about to die. The way he sings shows that he is not as sensitive about death anymore; also showing that Hamlet will accept his fate.

2)  In what ways do Hamlet’s reactions to the skulls in the graveyard seem to suggest a change in his outlook?  Compare Hamlet’s attitude towards Yoric to Hamlet’s attitude to Ophelia or even his father?  How is it different?    How is it similar?

In contrast to the aggressive and insane behavior, we see from Hamlet before the graveyard scene, as Hamlet sees all the skulls dug up by the graveyard, his wonder of how their lives must have been, shows that he still has an empathic and human part of him left in there somewhere. 

Hamlet's attitude towards the death of Yoric was somber; he was deeply saddened by it but did not lose his mind over it. On the other hand, his reaction to both his father and Ophelia's death was bordering on madness. He was planning deadly revenge for his father's death, and when Ophelia died, he was seen trying to outdo Laertes's dramatic reaction toward his sister's death. Hamlet lost the two closest people he had, and that's why he was teetering on insanity. 

3)    How old is Hamlet?  How do you know this?

Hamlet is thirty years old.

When Hamlet asks the gravedigger when he started his job, he replies thus:

"Of all the days I' the year, I came to ’t that day that our last

King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras...It was the very day that young Hamlet was born..."

And then when Hamlet asks how long that has been, replies:

"Why, here in Denmark. I have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years."

4)    What does the violent argument between Hamlet and Laertes add to the play?

The argument establishes the fact that both men, in some ways, are responsible for Ophelia's death. Laertes's strict set of rules set for her, and Hamlet's dismissal and aggressive attitude toward her might have led her to take her own life. And so both of the men, at that moment were equal in their positions in Ophelia's fate. 

5)    What developments in Hamlet’s character are presented through the story of what happened on the boat?  How has Hamlet changed?

The boat gave Hamlet the confidence and sense of power he needed to kill his childhood friends without any hesitation, by handing them over to Fortinbras. 

6)    How do Hamlet’s motives in killing Claudius seem to have shifted according to his speech beginning “Does it not, think thee…”  

By stating all the wrong things Claudius has committed, Hamlet states the fact that if Claudius hadn't stolen it from him, he could've been a much better king. 

7)    What concerns of the play are reinforced in the Osric episode?  

The characteristics that Polonius presented are shown again through Osric's big words and attempt to be witty. Osric senses that Hamlet is next in line for the throne, and so he's paving his way to rise to a position of power by flattering Hamlet. 

8)    Why does Hamlet ‘defy augury’?  

When Hamlet starts on the duel with Laertes, he knows how his fate might end. Despite it, he duels against him accepting his fate. 

9)    What does Laertes say is his motive in still resenting Hamlet?  How has it already lost this?  How does this contribute to the presentation of revenge in the play?  

Laertes's motive is avenging the death of his father and sister. Even though both Hamlet and Laertes are under pressure for avenging the deaths of their father, Laertes's motive is much stronger because he considers Hamlet responsible for both deaths; so he is not in the right mind. And he is hungry for revenge.

10) How might the dying lines of Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes be viewed as typical of the way their characters have been presented throughout the play?

Gertrude calls out to Hamlet as the last recognition of her love for him. 

Claudius tries again to get everyone to help him.
Laertes acknowledges his shortcomings again.

11)  Who “wins” in Hamlet?  How and why do you think this?

Fortinbras wins because ultimately Hamlet's whole court dies by the time Fortinbras reaches Denmark to conquer yet.